Behind the Vise Featured Tyer: Walker Campbell: The Joy Of Creating Something From Nothing.
- The Fly Box LLC
- Nov 11, 2025
- 6 min read
This interview was conducted as part of Behind the Vise and featured in Casts That Care, our charity-driven fly fishing newsletter by The Fly Box.
Behind the Vise celebrates the makers, storytellers, and innovators keeping American fly tying alive, while Casts That Care brings you real stories, big ideas, and the heart of the fly fishing world, all while donating 50% of subscriber fees to a different fly fishing charity each month Join Us Here!
Subscribe today and use promo code: Walker15 at checkout for 15% off your first month, and we’ll donate 25% more to our charity of the month
Throughout this article are photographs of Walker’s original flies, each one reflecting his precision, craftsmanship, and dedication to building patterns that balance strength, realism, and motion in the water.
In the low country waters of South Carolina, Walker Campbell is learning to balance college life with saltwater fly tying. At just twenty years old, his bench reflects both creativity and curiosity, a place where learning, experimentation, and appreciation for the sport come together. Walker represents the next generation of fly tyers: patient, humble, and driven by the joy of creating something from nothing.
The First Catch
Some of Walker’s earliest fly fishing memories take him back to late fall and winter nights on the Chesapeake Bay. He remembers standing on a community pier in the dark, casting toward the glow of underwater lights. “Although dark, typically windy, and with many pilings to snag the fly on, it is very fun to fish and sometimes be able to witness the rockfish inhale your fly along the edge of the dark water and the underwater light,” he said.
On one of those nights, he tied on a fly that he made himself. “I casted the Clouser out along the edge of the underwater light and the darkness, stripped it a few times, and watched a nice rockfish come up from the darkness and slam it. After a short fight, I got the fish in and got to see the fly in the corner of the fish’s mouth. Then it hit me, earlier that day that fly was nothing but a bare hook.”
Walker's Flies
That moment, he said, changed everything. “It is sometimes the more difficult and time-consuming tasks that end up being the most rewarding in life. The art of creating a fly that a fish will eat from basically nothing and using minimal almost primitive gear to cast and land the fish is like nothing else in the world.”
Walker's excitement in recalling that night reminds us why fly tying captures so many of us, it connects patience, skill, and imagination into a single moment when a fish eats something we built with our own hands.
Tying as Therapy
Fly tying quickly became Walker’s creative outlet. “Fly tying for me acts as a way to relax and alleviate stress from college work,” he said. “It gives the opportunity to do something that I love even when I can’t get out on the water.”
Walker's Flies
For Walker, the vise is both a workspace and a place of reflection, a reminder that even when life gets busy, creativity can carve out its own rhythm. He ties when he can, learning to balance studies with his craft. “I haven’t been able to tie as much as I used to since beginning college,” he said. “But I’m slowly finding more time to do it throughout the day. Time management is key.”
The Saltwater Mindset
Walker’s love for tying is rooted in the salt. “The large size and variety of different fish is what draws me to the salt,” he said. “Each fish has a different mystique and behavior pattern that I find fascinating. From tailing reds and bonefish, to rolling tarpon and blitzing false albacore, the salt has it all in my opinion.”
His favorite species to tie for is redfish, the primary target in the waters he frequents . “For the majority of the year in the low country, you need a fly that the fish can see in very mudded-up waters,” he explained. “The EP brush is able to build collars for bulk on a fly quickly, while also adding flash and legs depending on the brush.”
Walker's Flies
He also experiments with different materials, using both natural and synthetic blends to create flies that look good, fish well, and hold up over time. “I like flies to look good, but I also want them to be effective and durable so they can catch multiple fish with one fly and not burn through your fly box every trip,” he said.
Building a Future in Fly Tying
As a student, Walker’s goals are grounded in curiosity and growth. He dreams of starting his own fly tying business but admits he’s still learning the ropes. “I don’t really know where to start with that, or if my flies are at the point where people would buy them,” he said. “I would like to have some guidance on where to start and maybe lay out a step-by-step game plan on how I can start selling my flies.”
He’s eager to learn more about what makes a fly marketable, from design to branding, and how to connect with the right mentors in the industry. “I want to find out what people look for when buying saltwater flies and how I can bring something to the table that competition does not,” he said.
Inspiration and Mentorship
When asked who inspires him most, Walker had one answer. “Drew Chicone,” he said. “When it comes to saltwater flies, the guy is a genius. He ties great patterns for a wide variety of species. His tying books are amazing, and I look to them for inspiration often.”
That sense of admiration extends beyond technique. Walker sees tying as a legacy, something to pass on. “I feel that one of, if not the most important, tasks we are given in this sport is to pass it on to the next generation,” he said. “It is through this outlet that I feel I have gained a greater appreciation for the fish and the environment they live in. As a result, I want to do everything in my power to ensure it does not fade out of existence and become just a memory.”
By studying the work of others, Walker shows how mentorship and learning from those before us are essential to keeping the tradition strong.
Teaching the Next Generation
Walker hopes to one day teach others to tie, whether through workshops, YouTube, or mentorship. “To be able to provide an opportunity to get someone into the craft who might have otherwise not would mean the world to me,” he said. “It would feel surreal to watch someone have the same great experiences and emotions I have had when learning and growing in tying. I hope I can one day teach others what I know and allow them to love tying flies as much as I do.”
His words reflect a maturity and gratitude that stretch far beyond his years. In an age of fast trends and instant gratification, Walker’s story is a reminder that craftsmanship and patience still matter, and that the future of fly tying is in good hands.
Where to Find Walker
You can follow Walker Campbell on Instagram at @w_campbell1013, where he shares updates on his latest flies and progress toward launching his own tying page.
Walker represents the next wave of fly tyers, dedicated, curious, and committed to carrying forward the craft for generations to come.
This interview was conducted as part of Behind the Vise and featured in Casts That Care, our charity-driven fly fishing newsletter by The Fly Box.
Behind the Vise celebrates the makers, storytellers, and innovators keeping American fly tying alive, while Casts That Care brings you real stories, big ideas, and the heart of the fly fishing world, all while donating 50% of subscriber fees to a different fly fishing charity each month Join Us Here!
Subscribe today and use promo code: Walker15 at checkout for 15% off your first month, and we’ll donate 25% more to our charity of the month
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